Finned-tube radiator and the like



NOV. 1, 1932. Q J STUART 1,885,956

FINNED TUBE RADIATOR AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, 1932 Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNETE CHARLES J. STUART, F CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHASE COMPANIES,

INCORPORATED, OF WATER-BURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION FINNED-TUIBE RADIATOR AND THE LIKE Application filed June a, 1932. Serial 1%. 616,045.

This invention relates to an improvement in finned-tube heat-exchange units commonly referred to as radiators, though the structures are equally suitable for heat-absorption purposes such, for instance, as in refrigerators, etc.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of radiator and like units which include finned-tubes joining complementary heads, efiorts have been made to support the tubes against undue sagging, etc., by various means engaging with the tubes or with the tube-covering. However, owing to the more or less constant expansion and contraction, such supportingmeans will abrade the tubes or tube-covering or both, and so weaken the same that ultimate rupture of the tubes themselves may result.

One of the main objects of my present invention is to produce a strong and efiici'ent finned-tube heat-exchange unit characterized by durability, especially as regards freedom from tube abrasion or rupture as an incident to expansion and contraction.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in a heat-exchange unit characterized generally by a pair of complementary headers, one or more. thin-walled metal tubes interconnecting the said headers 90 and having a multiplicity of fins projecting therefrom; a pair of complementary sidemembers extending between the said headers and respectively located on the opposite sides of the said tube or tubes and the fins projecting therefrom; and a supporting-member extending crosswise between the said complementary side-members and provided with one or more fin-seats engaging one or more of the fins of the said tube or tubes to support the latter, through the intermediary of the said fins, against undue fleXure.

My invention further consists in a finnedtube heat-exchange unit having certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be apparent herein.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a broken top or plan view of one form which a heat-exchange unit embodying my invention may assume;

Fig. 2 is a broken detail sectional view thereof, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 1, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the supporting-plates, detached; and T Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the fins, detached.

The particular finned-tube radiator herein chosen for the purpose of illustrating one form which my invention may assume includes a pair of complementary headers 10 f and 11, preferably formed of cast metal and serve to hold the same in definite spaced rela-.

tionship. The sleeves 16 virtually serve to form an additional tubular structure reinforcing the tubes 12 and 13 proper.

"The particular character of the fins and the mode of their connection to the tubes may.

obviously vary widely without affecting my invention in its essential aspects.

Extending between the complementary headers 10 and 11 on the respective opposite sides thereof and on the respective opposite sides of the tubes and fins already described, are a pair of complementary side-members or side plates 17 and 18 which may be secured to the said headers in any desired manner such, for instance, as by spot welding. The side-plates 17 and 18 just referred to form lateral guards for the fins 15c and, in addition, serve to assist in preventing any undue vertical flexure of the tubes 12 and 13, as will hereinafter appear.

At desired specedintervals, I install between the fins, sheet-metal supporting-plates 19, each of which is formed at each of its respective opposite ends with a right-angle 5. flan e 20 adapted to have its outer face bear against the adjacent one of the respective side lates 17 and 18, before referred to, and to w ich it may be secured by any approved manner such, for instance, as by spot welding.

Each of the supporting-members or plates 19 is provided with six (more or less) laterally-oflsetting finger-like fin-seats 21 formed by slitting the edge of the plate 19 15 and r'oldin the metal therefrom, as clearly shown in ig. 4. As shown, three of the fingers of a given plate laterally offset from one side thereof, and the other three fingers laterally offset from the opposite side thereof.

Any desired number of supporting-members or plates 19 may be employed and I alreferab y position at least one plate below e tubes 12 and 13 and at least one plate above the same. When in position, as shown a in the drawing, the lower plates 19 (of which three are shown) serve to support the said tubes against undue downward flexure through the intermediary of certain of the fins 15 which have their lower edges resting upon the said seats, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. I

, Preferably, I also mount one or more (three being shown) of the supportingplates above the tubes 12 and 13 so as to prevent undue upward flexure of the said tubes during shipment and handling.

It will be noted that the supporting-plates 19am out of contact with both the tubes 12 and 13 and the sleeves 1? -16 of the fins 15,

and act to support the said tubes through the intermediary of certain of the fins 15 projecting therefrom.

' As the inevitable expansion and contracof the parts takes place as the radiator changes its temperature for various reasons, n0 abrasion of the sleeves 16 nor of the tubes 12 and 13 will take place, and but negligible abrasion, if any, will take place upon the be edge of those particular fins resting upon the fin-seats 21, as the said fins will flex to a slight degree. However, even should the ad? of the fins become abraded, no apprecia le harm is done since the fluid-passages oft-he radiator will remain intact.

Z Itivill be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention may assume varied physical forms without departing from my inventive concept and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the specific embodiment hereinchosen for illustration, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1. In a finned-tube radiator or the like, the

combination with a pair of complementary headers; of a plurality of thin-walled metal tubes interconnecting the said headers and having a multiplicity of fins projecting therefrom; a pair of complementary sidemembers extending between the said headers and respectively located on the opposite sides of the said tubes and the fins projecting therefrom; and a supporting-member extending crosswise between the saidcomplementary side-members and providing a fin-seat engaging one or more of the fins of the said tubes to support the latter through the intermediary of the said fins, against undue fiexure.

2. In a finned-tube radiator or the like, the combination with a pair of complemen- 8o tar headers; of a plurality of thin-wailcd metal tubes interconnecting the said headers and having a multiplicity of fins projecting therefrom; a pair of complementary sidemembers extending between the said headers 35 and respectively located on the opposite sides of the said tubes and the fins projecting therefrom; and a supporting-member extending crosswise between the said complementary side-members and provided with one or more 0 laterally-offsetting fin-seats engaging one or more of the fins of the said tubes to support the latter through the intermediary of the said fins, against undue flexure. M

3. In a finned-tube radiator or the like, the combination with a pair of complementary headers; of a plurality of thin-walled metal tubes interconnecting the said headers and having a multiplicity of fins projecting "therefrom; a pair of complementary sideplates extending between the said headers and respectively flanking the opposite sides of the said tubes and the fins projecting thererom; and a supporting-plate extending crosswise between the said complementary 1 5 side-plates and providing a fin-seat engaging one or more of the fins of the said tubes to support the latter through the intermediary of the said fins, against undue flexure. M

4. In a finned-tube radiator or the like, the combination with a pair of complementary headers; of a plurality of thin-walled metal tubes interconnecting the said headers and having a multiplicity of fins projecting M therefrom; a pair of complementary side- 1'15 plates extending between the said headers and respectively flanking the opposite sides of the said tubes and the fins projecting therefrom; and a supporting-plate extending crosswise between the said complementary side-plates through .a space between adjacent fins and provided with one or more laterally-offsetting fin-scats engaging the edge of one or more of the fins of the said. tubes to support the latter through the intermediary of the said fins, against undue flexure.

5. In afinned-tube radiator or the like, the combination with a pair of complemer, tary headers; of a plurality of thin-walled meta-l tubes interconnecting the said headers and having a multiplicity of fins projecting therefrom; a pair of complementary sideplates extending between the said headers and respectively flanking the opposite sides of the said tubes and the fins projecting therefrom; and a supporting-plate extending crosswise between the said complementary side-plates through a space between adjacent fins and provided with laterallyoifsetting fin-seats respectively extending from the plate in opposite directions to engage one or more of the fins on each of the respective opposite sides of the supportingplate to support the said tubes through the intermediary of the said fins against undue fiexure.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

CHARLES J. STUART. s 

